21. August 2009 by Marie Pinschmidt.

HOW TO BETTER ENJOY YOUR WORKS OF ART Do you walk through your home with no awareness of your wall décor? Is your field of vision limited to only what is immediately in front of you? Then you probably also pay little attention to sunrises and sunsets, beautiful flowering trees, or meandering streams. Are you tired of looking at the same landscape over your mantel or sofa that has been hanging there for as long as you can remember? Do you feel a need for change but your monetary budget leaves nothing for non-essentials?  Do your paintings or other wall décor no longer speak kindly to you although you purchased the item because you absolutely loved it? Are you tired of the original oil you inherited from your great-grandmother but can’t part with it for sentimental reasons? Have you upgraded your major furniture pieces and now find the works of art just do not work with your new color scheme? Or are you one of those rare individuals who have no interest whatsoever in art, know nothing about it, and don’t care to learn? So be it — I’m sure you find beauty and pleasure in other things. Works of art are not an insignificant part of your home. A beautiful painting or a piece of sculpture can make or break a room. It can add refinement, overpower, or if improperly placed, destroy any artistic ambience. Nothing says more about a homeowner’s personality and identification than the items collected to fill his personal space. Are you a traditionalist or an art deco enthusiast? Are you more comfortable around Rembrandt’s and Monet’s, or do you lean more toward Salvador Dali and his distorted images? Are the more current mixed media works of artist with a creative edge more to your liking? Are you attracted to oversized canvases, bright fields of color, or do you prefer paintings that calm the spirit and quiet the mind?  

The wonderful thing about art is it can be love at first sight and become a lifetime companion, bringing joy each time you pause long enough to say hello. A painting can transform a space with no logical reason to ever replace or move it to another location. It blooms where it’s planted, perfect just where it is; not unlike a much-loved spouse or beloved pet. The older it grows the more beautiful it becomes. However, unless the work of art is of great merit, size or value, chances are it could be relocated for better advantage—recycled, if you will. In all probability you bought the work of art for a specific space in your home, but how would you like to live in the same room for all eternity?  I like to think of works of art as living entities — much like the human hands that created them. A poem begs to be recited and a song yearns to be sung, not unlike a baby who cries for nourishment. Should they be left to feel ignored like neglected orphans hidden away in some obscure corner, their beauty and worth unappreciated?  Like people, works of art needs attention, and you can nourish that desire. Take them on a vacation to other rooms in your home; get a feel for the new environment. Both you and the art may like the new surroundings enough to extend your stay. The room takes on a new look, the colors in the painting take on a new vibrancy, and you have something fresh and new to look at when you wake up in the morning. It’s not the paintings fault if the lighting was poor in the old space, or if the huge wall made it appear insignificant. Group small works of art together; give them friends to converse with while you’re away. Or, if the little gem is really special, hang it just to the side of your favorite chair, or above your bedside table where the light can illuminates it and where you can view it up close and personal before saying goodnight.  Few people are totally satisfied with their surroundings, so take a fresh look, find a new perspective, and gain a new appreciation for your faithful, but often bored, friends. To better brighten your day, they may just need a little attention.   ““““““ 

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6. August 2009 by Marie Pinschmidt.

This post has nothing to do with my paintings and published books; it has to do with a subject that should interest all of us. This was published on Associated Content.com, and I’ve been asked to include it here.

WISDOM BEHIND THE WRINKLED BROW

Marie Pinschmidt

471 Brackenwood Lane, N.

Palm Beach Gardens, Fl. 33418

561-624-9003

Email MariePin001@comcast.net

http://www.paintings-prose-palmbeach.com

Essay                                                                                                                                     Word count 671

Wisdom Behind the Wrinkled Brow

Open letter to Nancy Pelosi, et al

By Marie Pinschmidt

I fear neither the dark nor the shade. Neither do I fear the blinding light of day that exposes everything in sharp detail. A life lived in fear is no life at all. However, the presently proposed national health bill causes me great concern. Tom Daschle stated, “Health-care reform will not be pain free. Seniors should be more accepting of the conditions that come with age instead of treating them.” Does he include himself in that statement or does it only apply to the rest of us aging citizens? I am definitely not making a political statement here ─ but a human observation.

Let me explain that I’m an 80 year old woman with two priorities throughout my life: A roof over my head and adequate health insurance. I am now on Social Security but pay extra for Medigap insurance and drug coverage through AARP ─ a plan that works. Without this coverage, and had the proposed new health bill been in place, I would not be here to write this letter. After being a caregiver for twenty-three years (saving the government thousands of dollars), in 2001 I had major surgery, an auto accident (not my fault), and a pacemaker installed to control atrial fibrillation. The surgery was for cancer but due to excellent preventive medicine, it was caught in time and there has been no return. This year, I had another cancer scare. The tests were performed immediately, I had minor surgery, no cancer was found, and I was spared months of waiting and wondering about my future or lack thereof.

The question is: Has my life, in spite of my age, been an asset or a liability to society? My husband died in 2000. Since then I have lived alone, maintain my own home, got my health back on track, and depend on my excellent physicians to sustain me as long as possible without having their hands tied in providing the care I need. In addition, since 2001, I have written a memoir, had two novels published and a third is with the publisher as I speak. I write essays and am active on the internet. I also teach others how to paint in oils, and play Mah Jongg once a week, often winning over players younger than myself.

Pinschmidt  -2-

And, by the way, my husband and I also adopted two homeless children and supported them through difficult years to maturity without asking for outside compensation. During those trying times, were we an asset to society or a governmental liability?

If this new bill passes, who will determine who wins and who loses in this game of life? How does one determine which illness should be treated and which is unworthy because of age or societal status? Our physicians are trained to save lives whenever possible – to them all ill patients share equal worthiness, and that’s the way it should be.

Whether or not you believe I, or others like me, have lived and continue to live a productive and worthwhile existence, I don’t want the government or anyone else to play God with my life. Don’t assume because my hair is gray and my brow has a few wrinkles that I’m not willing and able to make a contribution to my fellow man. My gray hair should not indicate my life to be unnecessary, a nuisance or inconvenience to others. I’ve paid my dues for SS benefits and am willing to do without an I Pod or Kindle in order to afford additional insurance. We cannot allow the government to put a dollar sign on a human life. The president and congress should concentrate on eliminating waste and fraud among themselves, fix only what is broken, and allow us citizens to hold the responsibility for our own fate.

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